Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

Chapter Thirteen

His sweet humility warmed her. "As I said, you are very rare."

"Do you really believe that?" he asked in that richly deep voice of his. She could listen to the manly resonance of it all day long....

"Experience has tutored me well that most will lie or cheat to get the better hand. It's why I prefer solitude to social interaction."

He took a sip then set his cup aside. "And I hate to be alone, yet it seems to be forever forced upon me."

She frowned at the pain she heard in his tone. "Why do you hate being alone?"

"It's lonely."

"You can be surrounded by people and still be alone."

"And that is a lesson I've learned well. Still, it's better to be distracted by the crowd than to be left with memories that serve no purpose other than to torture the conscience and flog the heart."

His wisdom surprised her. He seemed a lot older than his years.

"You aren't old enough to have such regrets."

"Pain doesn't respect age, my lady. Sometimes I think the Algea rather enjoy going after younger victims just for spite." Styxx hesitated as a stricken look went across her brow. "Forgive me, my lady. I didn't mean to be so maudlin. I've tainted your beautiful smile, and that was definitely not my intent. As I said, I spend far too much time alone. It leaves me lacking in all social graces."

She shook her head. "I find your sincere conversation and heartfelt comments refreshing. I have no patience for guile and even less for artful wordsmiths who mask their claws behind double entendres and cleverly practiced lines. So give me your honesty, Hector. That is why I waited for you today when I never wait for anyone."

How did she do it? She made him feel so ...

Human. Worthy. And it was so effortless for her. While others degraded him, she made him feel like he could fly.

"You are not like anyone I've ever met before, Bethany."

She tucked her chin in, in the cutest manner he'd ever seen. "I should hope not. I pride myself on being unique in this world."

He hardened even more and wished he had the courage to steal a kiss from her. "And well you should."

She swallowed her bit of bread. "What about you?"

"What about me, what?"

She leaned forward and wrinkled her nose. "On what do you pride yourself?"

Stupidity. It was what he seemed to possess an abundance of, but he had no wish to out himself so soon to her. "Nothing."

"I'm serious, Hector."

He glanced away from her. "As am I."

She scooted closer to him until her scent made his head reel again. "There's nothing you excel at? Honestly?"

Before he could stop himself, the truth poured out. "Angering my father, and definitely my sister. I can turn her from a smiling beauty to a vengeful shrew by merely walking into a room. My powers in that regard are truly awe-inspiring. But I take no pride in either. And as you've seen firsthand, my skill with horses is even more lacking than my social graces."

"There has to be something you're good at. Surely you can name me one thing besides angering your family."

"The only other thing I'm accomplished at is hiding pain behind the guise of stoicism."

Bethany froze as she heard the torment inside him. Her heart breaking for him, she reached to touch his hand, but couldn't find it.

"I'm sorry, my lady. I didn't mean to ... I should be going." He was moving away, she could hear his retreat.

"Hector? Please, don't go. Stay with me."

Styxx savored words no one had ever said to him before. Never once. Rather, people were forever sending him away. Before he could stop himself, he headed back to her side.

She held her hands up to feel for him. "Are you still here?"

He placed his hand into hers and allowed her to pull him down next to her. The urge to cup her hand to his cheek was so strong, he wasn't sure how he kept from complying. "I am here."

The smile on her face slammed into him. "Should we just speak of the weather?"

"Whatever topic pleases you."

She reached up to finger his jaw and lips. "The one thing that is hard without sight is judging moods at times. Since I can't see your expression, I can't tell yours right now. You are good at hiding it."

"My mood is that I am happy and content just to sit with you, Bethany." He brushed a stray piece of hair back from her cheek. "You don't even have to speak to me at all."

"But I would like to know you."

Those words tore through him. "There's nothing really to know. I work. I study and I sometimes sleep."

"What do you do for pleasure?"

Not a damn thing. Except for one ...

"I ride to this stream where there is an amazing girl who plies me with beautiful smiles and wine and bread so that I can remove the taste of foot from my mouth."

She shook her head at him. "And before me?"